Memorial Cardiac and Vascular Institute Helps Delores Overcome Heart Failure

Delores hadn’t been feeling well, but figured it was temporary. When swelling in her leg and abdomen didn’t subside, she finally went to the emergency room at Memorial Regional Hospital.

“The doctor comes in and he sits down,” Delores said. “He says, ‘Right now you’re in heart failure.’”

Twenty years prior, Delores had received chemotherapy and radiation treatments for cancer.

Ioana Dumitru, MD, medical director, Adult Cardiac Transplant, Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy, suspects those treatments were at the root of the heart condition.

Delores required intravenous medication for eight months and was able to discontinue those with the help of a new oral medication. A surgically implanted pacemaker followed.

Initially, doctors planned to add Delores to a heart transplant list. She’s responded so well, she no longer needs a transplant.

“I feel great,” she said. “I’m exercising and I’m back to my old self.